Bandon
War Memorial, dedicated to the soldiers of Bandon and district who died
during World War 1 & 2.

The
committee's aim is to commemorate
and endeavour to keep alive the

names
and the tradition of those from the Bandon area who fought and those
who died in the two World Conflicts.

It
is to promote a wider awareness of the forgotten Irish men and
women who served, fought and died in the Great War 1914-1918. We
believe that a better understanding of the shared heritage of
sacrifice now will help to reconcile the two major traditions on
the whole of this island. The volunteers came from every class,
religion and location.Their reasons for enlisting were as varied
as we are different.

Irish
history show that over 210,000 Irish soldiers took part in the
First World War 1914-1918. 35,000 were killed never to return to
Irish soil. Also Irish women served as nurses in field hospitals
close to the battlefields.

Up
to 200 Bandon & District soldiers that we have researched are
buried on foreign soil and long forgotten at home in Ireland.

When
the war began in August 1914, Ireland was on the brink of a
civil war between two private armies. The Irish Volunteers were
organised to support Home Rule in response to the armed
opposition of the Ulster Volunteers who wished to maintain the
Union.With Home Rule deferred
until the end of the war, the great majority of both
organisations enlisted in the new armiesbeing raised to fight Germany. Conscription did not apply
to Ireland. The
scale of the Irish involvement in the Great War makes it likely
that most people living in Ireland have a deceased relative or
former neighbour who enlisted
in the army
or navyor
who took an opposing view and campaigned against the war. We, the
committee, were formed to promote a greater awareness of the
individuals from the district and social class ofBandon who were involved in the great tragedy of the 2
World Wars.